Leaf Rapids residents return home despite out-of-control wildfire still raging
Posted July 5, 2023 1:48 pm.
Residents of a small northern Manitoba community began returning Tuesday afternoon after a wildfire evacuation order forced them from their homes, despite the fire still burning nearby.
BACKGROUND: ‘It looked like a nuke’: Leaf Rapids resident recounts wildfire evacuation
The Town of Leaf Rapids lifted the mandatory evacuation order at noon.
Buses departing Thompson, where several families were evacuated to, were arranged to take residents requiring transportation back home Wednesday.
The community of around 350 people situated 980 kilometres north of Winnipeg was forced to evacuate last week due to a wildfire burning out of control.
Residents were given little warning to pack up and leave once the state of emergency was declared.
On June 26 the fire was approximately 10,500 hectares and around eight kilometres away from Leaf Rapids.
As of July 3, the fire had doubled in size (20,980 hectares) and was still deemed out of control. But the province says it’s moving away from the community.
Map showing dimensions of wildfire burning near Leaf Rapids as of July 4, 2023. (Courtesy: Government of Manitoba)
